I have had 2 more chemo sessions since I last wrote. As predicted they were a bit different. Instead of having a nurse sitting and giving me each drug through a line the drugs were administered through a drip so took a bit longer. I felt fine on the actual days of the treatment but felt very very tired for the next 4-5 days. I have had some of the different side effects and felt a bit down for a while. I lost all sense of taste ( some of you would say that I didn't have much taste before!!) and couldn't tell what I was eating. I kept feeling the need to cover all my food in either sugar or salt to make it palatable! I have also had the strangest of feelings in my fingers -they were really painful at the tips and I couldn't open things or undo buttons - very weird! So I have had to "go with the flow" and have a sit down and rest when necessary. The side effects didn't last too long last time and after a while I was fine and not suffering at all. I had my 5th chemo last Thursday - hopefully it will be the same this time and I will be my more normal self in a day or two. All very peculiar !!
Enough about my chemo, and on to all the things I have been doing that have kept me from updating my blog. I have been in to school quite a bit and have spent lots of time organising a series of residential trips for some of my year 5 children which are due to take place during October. Hopefully I will be well enough to go on the trips (as I have done all the hard work!) and as they are only local to here, I can come home and leave the kids to the other members of staff overnight. Good planning !
Dom has gone back to school now and into the sixth form. He is doing History, Geography, Government & Politics and Philosophy. He and Jon seem to have great and lively debates at home but they usually seem to take place at 110'clock at night when I am trying to go to sleep!! Jon goes back to Bristol at the weekend so maybe the debates will carry on via facebook ( I think not!!)
I have been popping up to see everyone at rehearsals for Me & My Girl as I am really missing being in the show. I have been doing my bit for the company though as I organised a quiz night last week and we raised quite a bit of money for our funds.
Jon has been busy during the last few days building a paved area at the bottom of the garden. It's all new to him and he's done very well lugging paving stones and bags of sand and cement about. It is looking quite good so if his maths degree doesn't lead to anything else ...... Colin has also had him climbing up ladders at home to fix ariel wires so we will definitely miss him when he goes. We are taking him back on Sunday so I will probably be feeling a bit glum next week.
By the way.. did I tell you that my hair has started to grow back?? Because these new drugs are different, they don't affect your hair in the same way so my hair is very slowly beginning to grow again. It will take a few months before it is long enough to come out for an airing but at least it's on its way! Don't worry, Auds and Coco will be having lots more outings before they are put out to pastures new.
It has been great to catch up with you over the holidays. Although the weather has been pretty terrible here this summer it has been good to receive postcards from all over the world and to hear your news.
Hopefully we will be able to get away on holiday for a week over New Year. I have an appointment with my specialist this week and all being well , he will ok it for me to go skiing (well maybe more hot chocolate-ing than skiing) after Christmas. Our friends are going to Verbier to their new chalet so it would be great to go out and have some fun with them. I will definitely need that bobble hat!!
I had better go now or I will never get this posted.....
Speak to you soon,
Gilly xx
Joke: Gilly went to the doctors as her hair was beginning to fall out. She asked if the doctor could give her anything to keep it in. So he gave her a little box.....................!
